Device for Supporting a Sun-Tracking Unit of a Photovoltaic Module

ABSTRACT

An adjustable device for supporting a sun-tracking unit includes a framework and first and second supporting elements. The framework includes lower and upper portions. The lower portion of the framework includes two transverse long tubes and a longitudinal long tube for interconnecting the transverse long tubes. The upper portion of the framework includes two vertical tubes each extending from a related one of the transverse long tubes, two transverse short tubes each extending from a related one of the vertical tubes, and a longitudinal short tube for interconnecting the transverse short tubes. The first supporting element is connected to the transverse short tubes. The second supporting element is adjustably connected to the first supporting element.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a photovoltaic module and, more particularly, to an adjustable device for supporting a sun-tracking unit of a photovoltaic module so that the sun-tracking unit and an energy-converting unit of the photovoltaic module are flush with each other.

RELATED PRIOR ART

A photovoltaic module generally includes an energy-converting unit and a sun-tracking unit. The sun-tracking unit aligns the energy-converting unit to the sun. The energy-converting unit includes an array of solar cells. The sun-tracking unit includes at least one photo sensor provided on a circuit board supported on a supporting device. The supporting device includes a board connected to a framework. The framework is connected to a portion of the energy-converting unit. The circuit board is supported on the board. The array of solar cells must be flush with the photo sensor. With the array of solar cells aligned to the sun and located flush with the photo sensor, the photovoltaic module converts solar energy into electricity at an optimal efficiency.

It is however troublesome to position the photo sensor relative to the array of solar cells to make them flush. Every time a photo sensor is replaced with a new one, an operator has to experience, again, this trouble of positioning the new photo sensor. This is inconvenient, and wastes human resource, increases the cost. Furthermore, the second portion of the supporting unit is in the form of a solid board so that only side thereof can be used to support photo sensors.

The present disclosure is therefore intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in prior art.

SUMMARY OF PRESENT DISCLOSURE

It is an objective of the present disclosure to provide an adjustable device for supporting a sun-tracking unit of a photovoltaic module so that the sun-tracking unit is flush with an energy-converting unit of the photovoltaic module.

It is another objective of the present disclosure to provide an efficient device for supporting a sun-tracking unit of a photovoltaic module.

It is another objective of the present disclosure to provide an adjustable device for supporting a sun-tracking unit of a photovoltaic module that includes two opposite photo sensors.

To achieve the foregoing objectives, the adjustable device for supporting a sun-tracking unit includes a framework and first and second supporting elements. The framework includes lower and upper portions. The lower portion of the framework includes two transverse long tubes and a longitudinal long tube for interconnecting the transverse long tubes. The upper portion of the framework includes two vertical tubes each extending from a related one of the transverse long tubes, two transverse short tubes each extending from a related one of the vertical tubes, and a longitudinal short tube for interconnecting the transverse short tubes. The first supporting element is connected to the transverse short tubes. The second supporting element is adjustably connected to the first supporting element. The second supporting element includes an annular configuration.

Other objectives, advantages and features of the present disclosure will be apparent from the following description referring to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present disclosure will be described via detailed illustration of the preferred embodiment referring to the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an adjustable device for supporting a sun-tracking unit of a photovoltaic module according to the preferred embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a partial view of the adjustable device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is another partial view of the adjustable device shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is another perspective view of the portion of the adjustable device shown in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows an adjustable device 100 for supporting a sun-tracking unit of a photovoltaic module according to the preferred embodiment of the present disclosure. The photovoltaic module further includes an energy-converting unit including an array of solar cells. The sun-tracking unit includes a circuit board and at least one photo sensor provided on each of two opposite sides of the circuit board. The photo sensors are photoelectric diodes for example. Such energy-converting unit and sun-tracking unit will not be further described in detail for not being the spirit of the present disclosure. The adjustable device 100 includes a framework 1, a first supporting element 2 and a second supporting element 3.

FIG. 2 shows framework 1 includes a lower portion 11 and an upper portion 12. The lower portion 11 of the framework 1 includes two transverse long square tubes 111 and a longitudinal long square tube 112 for interconnecting the transverse long square tubes 111. The transverse long square tubes 111 and the longitudinal long square tube 112 form a U-shaped or H-shaped structure. The transverse long square tubes 111 are connected to another framework for supporting the energy-converting unit.

The upper portion 12 of the framework 1 includes two transverse short square tubes 121, a longitudinal short square tube 122 for interconnecting the transverse short square tubes 121, and two vertical square tubes 123 each extending to a related one of the transverse short square tubes 121 from a related one of the transverse long square tubes 111. The transverse short square tubes 121 and the longitudinal short square tube 122 form a U-shaped structure. The longitudinal short square tube 122 and the vertical square tubes 123 form another U-shaped structure. The square tubes 111, 112, 121, 122 and 123 are made of metal and connected to one another by welding for example.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the first supporting element 2 is in the form of a board. The first supporting element 2 includes a primary rectangular portion 21 and a secondary rectangular portion 22 extending from the primary rectangular portion 21. Thus, the first supporting element 2 is made a T-shaped element. The primary rectangular portion 21 of the first supporting element 2 includes four apertures 211 each defined in a corner thereof. Furthermore, three apertures 24 are defined in the primary rectangular portion 21 of the first supporting element 2. The secondary rectangular portion 22 of the first supporting element 2 includes an aperture defined therein near a free end thereof. Moreover, another aperture 24 is defined in the secondary rectangular portion 22 of the first supporting element 2.

The second supporting element 3 includes an annular configuration. The second supporting element 3 includes four margins 31 connected to one another at the right angle and four fins 32 each extending from a related one of the margins 31 at the right angle. Thus, the margins 31 form a square structure in which a square opening is defined. Each of the fins 32 includes a screw hole 321 defined in a section thereof located outside the square structure and an aperture 322 defined in another section thereof located within the square structure.

A screw 6 is inserted through each of the screw holes 321 and engaged with a nut 7. Each of the screw 6 is inserted through a spring 4. Each of the screws 6 is inserted through a related one of the apertures 24 and engaged with a butterfly nut 5. The springs 4 are compressed between the first supporting element 2 and the second supporting element 3. With the springs 4, the butterfly nuts 5 and the screws 6, the second supporting element 3 can be positioned relative to the first supporting element 2 efficiently. Thus, the adjustable device 100 is made.

In use, the energy-converting unit, i.e., the circuit board of the sun-tracking unit is supported on the second supporting element 3. The photo sensor on one of the opposite sides of the circuit board of the sun-tracking unit is used to track the sun at a time, depending on the position of the sun-tracking unit relative to the sun. Thus, the operation of the sun-tracking unit can begin again after it is interrupted by clouds for a long period of time and the sun moves to a substantially opposite orientation during the long period of time. With the springs 4, the butterfly nuts 5 and the screws 6, the second supporting element 3 can be positioned relative to the first supporting element 2 efficiently. That is, the sun-tracking unit can be positioned relative to energy-converting unit efficiently.

The present disclosure has been described via the detailed illustration of the preferred embodiment. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from the preferred embodiment without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the preferred embodiment shall not limit the scope of the present disclosure defined in the claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An adjustable device for supporting a sun-tracking unit of a photovoltaic module, the adjustable device comprising: a framework including: a lower portion including two transverse long tubes and a longitudinal long tube for interconnecting the transverse long tubes; and an upper portion including two vertical tubes each extending from a respective one of the transverse long tubes, two transverse short tubes each extending from a respective one of the vertical tubes, and a longitudinal short tube for interconnecting the transverse short tubes; a first supporting element connected to the transverse short tubes; and a second supporting element adjustably connected to the first supporting element.
 2. The adjustable device according to claim 1, wherein the transverse long tubes, longitudinal long tube, transverse short tubes, longitudinal short tube, and vertical tubes are square tubes.
 3. The adjustable device according to claim 1, wherein the transverse short tubes and the longitudinal short tube form a U-shaped structure.
 4. The adjustable device according to claim 1, further comprisnig: screws inserted through the first and second supporting elements; butterfly nuts each engaged with a respective one of the screws; and springs each located around a respective one of the screws and compressed between the first and second supporting elements.
 5. The adjustable device according to claim 1, wherein the first supporting element includes a T-shaped board, the T-shaped board including: a primary rectangular portion connected to the transverse short tubes; and a secondary rectangular portion extending from the primary rectangular portion.
 6. The adjustable device according to claim 5, wherein the primary rectangular portion of the second supporting element includes apertures through which screws can be driven in the transverse short tubes.
 7. The adjustable device according to claim 1, wherein the second supporting element includes an annular configuration including margins extending from one another.
 8. The adjustable device according to claim 7, further comprising: screws inserted via the first and second supporting elements; butterfly nuts each engaged with a relative one of the screws; and springs each located around a related one of the screws and compressed between the first and second supporting elements.
 9. The adjustable device according to claim 8, wherein the second supporting element includes wings each extending from a related one of the margins and including a screw hole defined therein for receiving a related one of the screws.
 10. The adjustable device according to claim 9, wherein each of the wings includes an aperture defined therein for receiving a screw driven through the sun-tracking unit. 